The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-11-02
Romance of a ROsebush.

0eT DdnDOO TOCkeT. IL 10 all lol-ue-
rol, say, for people to think they must
make up jim-cracks that nobody wants
and scatter them about among their
friends"
But it is for a birthday present,
aunt"
Well, what of that? Do you sup
pose because my birthday happens to
be coming that want any one to give
me an ungainly pin-cushion with two
HIS worked in the center?"
What if there should be three
H's?" said Lottie, slyly, remembering
old Peter Hammond's clumsy atten-
tons with, as he admitted, " an eye to
a snug home"
What's that you say?" snapped Miss
Hetta.
Lottie did not venture a repetition,
but sat demurely, considering what
under the stress of circumstances she
should do. Lottie was Miss Henrietta's
orphan niece, and had been a member
of her household for nearly year.
She had learned dearly to love the prim
old lady, though that love was not I'M
mixed with fear. Her wants had all
been kindly anticipated and generously
supplied but now she had come to her
aunt with a request for few shillings
to spend on trihes, of which Miss Hetta
did not approve, and had been fatty
denied.
Oh, dear, what should she do? Harry
had always brought her some tasteful
gift and she did so want to make him a
hat-band for his new Derby. She had
dreamed that she could not, and had
put it off till the last moment.
The great drops welled up suddenly
to her eyes. If Miss Hetta saw any
symptoms of beartache she had had
heartaches herself, and they never
killed her yet. But Lottie did not
kind, and was, albeit, her only living
relative-except Harry. Well, Harry
was not a relative exactly; and, oh
dear, if he could only have hat-band!
She forced back the rebellious tears
and went singing about the house, like
the blithe girl she was.
The birthday morning arrived, and
the problem of Harry's present was still
unsolved. IF l could just give him
something" she sighed, looking visit
fully down the long street. "Oh,"
she said, suddenly, clasping her heads,
81 will, will what happy thought"
and she fairly jumped into her cloak
and hat and went skipping down the
street.
Dr. Beach, an eccentric bachelor,
lived in the rather lonely house at the
extreme end of the street. LOttie was
never sick herself and Aunt Hetta
never employed DIR. Beach for her oc-
oocinno oil oil xyat tho hric yht -ho or ta1
girl had contrived to make the acquaint-
ance of the uncouth doctor, who liked
her, and called her Little Miss
"What if the dear old man was a
little gruff. He was good;" and into
his office Lottie now went, assured of a
warm welcome. Absorbed in her own
interest and intent on her errand she
approached the bay-window where stood
the great monthly rosebush which
had been the wonder and envy of the
admiring public since almost before
Lottie was born.
"Oh, DOCTOR" she said, {" came to
ask if you would be so kind as to give
me three or four of those lovely buds?n
"What for?" growled the doctor,
savagely.
You see," she began, 60 wanted to
make something pretty for birthday
gift for-for a friend, but l could
not "-choking little" and | had
almost given up hope of anything,
when this morning, as glanced down
the road, your beautiful roses seemed
to say, Come after u.s. so here am
Flowers are always nice to give, you
know, and had none"
"Humph! Why couldn't you make
what you wanted to?''
" Aunt Hetta would not let me-"
Humph! Is not Henrietta Hen
shaw good to your" he demanded, brist
ling up.
ooh, yes, as kind as can be. Blu
she does not believe in birthday gifts
she says"
Hadn't you any money yourself?"
ono"
" She might give you cent or TIVE
from time to time; then you would hav,
fund to draw from
" oh, she does; | had five dollar
Monday that l had not needed to use
But saw Jennie and Tommie Elro,
with their little bare toes peeping on
of their old shoes and"
:" So you squandered your money t.
clothe the feet of those little vaga
bonds?" growled the doctor, wonder
ing why he hadn't seen the bare toes.
:" Yes, got shoes and the incest re-
stockings. Jennie cried and cried whe
she Rugged me because she was so glad, :
related Lottie, her quick tears starting
The doctor rubbed his knuckles vir
dictively in his own eyes. " Well, Lii
tie Miss, if you had known you coul
not get any more money for your fun
merry would you have spent all you ha
on the little beggars?'
" don't know; | hope so; I'm sorr
you asked me. / really think | should
But | did want the other so dreadful
that / might have saved out little"
"You could have got brown stocl
ings."
g So could. But guess I'm gla
did not; the red ones are so niue
prettier and the poor like pretty thing
as well as the rich"
The doctor looked ponderingly on Ii
little miss. She was pretty creatur
and innocent as she was pretty. Thong
she was seventeen, her looks and al
pearance would have hardly elaine
for her fifteen well rounded years.
Z" 1t is bridal rose" said Lotto
keeping her errand in mind, as 81
looked admiringly into the great busl
whose beautiful blossoms riyaled IL